The Sugar Duchess gives an insight into the glittering world of Burlesque, its roots in social commentary and the work that makes the magic happen!
My favourite thing about burlesque is . . .
that it’s for everyone — legitimately — whether it’s as an audience member or the performer in the spotlight. Burlesque gives us a platform for celebration and storytelling. Individual acts can empower or challenge what you thought you knew, and shows can inspire beyond your wildest dreams. Burlesque is wonderfully unpredictable. It is whatever it wants to be and whatever we want it to be. And glitter. I really love glitter, too.
What most people don’t know about . . .
burlesque is it began in the 1800s and comes from the word “burla”, which means to parody. Burlesque actually started as a social commentary and it still is today. Some of the most iconic acts have been based on politics, society values or come from topics that you might not necessarily think of as showgirl-esque — like acts about Tony Abbott, or the Great Barrier Reef, or the Hulk. The art of tease is a huge part of burlesque, but parody is where it started and continues to drive focus. Burlesque is always at the forefront of the conversation about where society is. To quote the current reigning Miss Burlesque Australia, Miss Bettie Bombshell: “We are actively protecting this safe, inclusive, artistic space by addressing the issues that are important. (The future is) looking bright, friends, and I can’t wait to see what kind of future we create.”
My friends think I . . .
prance about in feathers. Most people don’t know that burlesque performers spend a lot of time in studios rehearsing and hunched over costumes creating masterpieces. As a producer who also happens to work full time, I’ll spend most nights spreadsheeting, emailing, choreographing and editing into the morning hours. I have a wonderful time performing but my real joy comes from being the producer and standing side stage. I have tech in the cans, the audience cheering, a stagehand asking for help and the bustle of backstage. I can see it all: the performers absolutely owning the stage, the audience on the edge of their seats with wonder, the stage manager proudly running tech perfectly, the tech making magic happen, the stagehands gleefully learning every single second and the offstage performers oozing excitement. That feeling outshines anything else.
I’ve surprised myself by . . .
seeing how much burlesque has become my life. I’ve always danced and taught jazz and ballroom, but what started as a casual drop-in burlesque class 10 years ago has grown into owning a festival and having my own cabaret production company and travelling across Australia and the world. I love seeing the empowerment it gives people. It’s hard work, it’s a bit crazy but it’s always fabulous.
The West Australian, 19 Oct 2019